Improvement in brick-kilns



Patented my 30,1812..

G. HowLAN D.

Y l Il l l ummm .l .Wr .Q

lImprovement `ih Br'ick-Kilns.

v HowLAND,

UNITED STATES GARDNER HOWLAND, 0F BRUNSVV IGK, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN BRICK-KILNS.

Speciication forming part of Letters Patent No. 129,959, dated July 30, 187:2.

Specification of Manufacture of Bricks, invented by GARDNER of Brunswick, in the county of Rensselaer and State of New York.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a perspective view of the kiln. Fig. 2 is a secltional view of the bottom of the column, showing the method of supporting it and its appearance while the burned bricks are being taken out, the kiln being left out of the drawing to give an unobstructed view.

It is well understood that the main difficulty in the manufacture of brick by the present mode is the inequality of their burning, some being burned too much so as to melt and run together, while a large portion of those ou the outer portions of the kiln are burned insuliciently, cr not. burned at all, ycausing great loss in both overburned and underburned brick, and throwing a heavy tax for labor and material upon the portions that are well burned; and another difficulty is experienced in the delay of operations between the preparation and construction of a kiln and its burning, being alternate, occupying several days or weeks, and causing great loss of time.

By my improvement these different operations are continuous in all their parts, and every brick is burned to its desired consistency.

My invention consists in arranging a column of brick prepared for burning, in a kiln constructed for the purpose, in such a manner that the column may be lowered, passing a reverberatory furnace, Where they are burned,

and below it, where they are cooled, and taken out at the bottom of the column, while, at the same time, fresh brick are added dat the top ofthe column, being a continuous process. And to enable others skilled in the art to construct and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

Figure l represents a kiln made with brick, abouttwenty-iive feet high and four or eight feet square, larger if'desired, with a reverberatory furnace, B, situated about midway or a little below the center, and openings D atthe bottom of the kiln, where the brick are taken out. a, b, c, and d are jack-screws seta little way in from the corners and supporting the column. To commence the operation, blocks of timber or plank may be placed upon these screws and bricks placed upon them an Improvement .in the.

till the kiln is filled unburned brick, may be filled in until they reach the top of the. kiln, when a fire may be started in the reverberatory furnace, throwing its heat and up to the furnace, where smoke into the kiln and through the column screw a at the opposite corner of the colu'mn,

and each man remove his .block and the brick that may be loosened by lowering the screw, ,and then turn the screws a ando up again until they firmly hold the column, when the screws b and d may be lowered in like manner and the bricks removed, when b and d are again screwed up till they hold the column equally with a and c, when all the screws are lowered simultaneously and the column follows them down until the brick that are not sufficiently burned come opposite thereverberatory furnace, where they are allowed to remain until they are sufficiently burned, when they are again lowered and the brick removed and the first operation repeated. In the meantime the top of the column at F, and under the roof H, is constantly receiving a supply of brick prepared for burning, and piled upon it in the order that is requisite to admit of draft, and such a free admission of the heat around and between each brick as will insure perfect burning, Here, also, may be added, if desired, fine coal to facilitate its burning and assist the furnace in effecting the requisite heat. This may be determined and regulated by the operators, as different circumstances may require. This column should be kept illed above the top of the kiln, where it is more easy of steam are escaping through the brick. Where it is desired to use a larger kiln a lifth screw may be placed in the center of the base of the column, which will diminish the size of the arch opened by lowering the screws and loosen a smaller quantity of brick when each screw is loosened. Thus any size kiln may be operated by the addition of a greater number of screws and increasing the size and number` of the furnaces, placing one or more on either or brick ready to be burned,

access while the smoke and side, as may be deemed necessary. This kiln may be built in the side of a hill, With the yard on the upper side level with the top 0i' the kiln, which I prefer, as it can be operated with less expense; or it may be placed on a level ground and the unburned brick elevated to the top of the kiln.

I do not confine myself to any particular height of column, that being determined by the character of the material used and the size of the articles to be burned.

By my arrangement of the furnaces in or about the center of the kiln, With openings at the bottom, a current of cold air enters the kiln through said openings, passes around and through the brick resting on the jacks, which,

naces B B, openings D D, and jack-screws a b c d, constructed and operating as and for the purpose set forth.

GARDNER HOWLAND. Witnessed by- E. O. HOWLAND, W. A. PETERS. 

